Ever since the slow decline of the PSP platform began, we've wondered where exactly Sony would go next with its handheld-gaming platform. Despite Marcus Rivers and a handful of admittedly good titles, the PSP has been too expensive for its own good, while the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android phones have become increasingly good and cheap gaming alternatives.

Rumors now have it that Sony Ericsson is making a very PSP Go-like Android smartphone with a gaming focus for release this October. Running Android 3.0 (aka Gingerbread), the phone's added phsyical game controller and possible PlayStation branding suggest that its killer feature will be access to the PlayStation Network's collection of original PlayStation and PSP games. Whether it will be via PSN or a special section of the Android marketplace (Engadget's sources indicate the latter) remains to be determined.

About the author

Scott Stein is a senior editor covering iOS and laptop reviews, mobile computing, video games, and tech culture. He has previously written for both mainstream and technology enthusiast publications including Wired, Esquire.com, Men's Journal, and Maxim, and regularly appears on TV and radio talking tech trends.
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